IC-NRLF 


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GIFT   OF 


GTPT 
AUG  13  1319 


REPORT 


OF 


HENRY  SNYDER 


Superintendent  of  Schools,  Jersey 
City,  N.  J. 


ON  THE 


HIGH  SCHOOL  SITUATION 


'   IN     .„., 

•" 


L< 


OF  T 

HARRISBURG,  PA. 


REPORT 

OF 

DR.  HENRY  SNYDER 

CITY,  May  n,  1912. 


MR.  F.  E.  DOWNES, 

Chairman. 
DEAR  SIR  : 

In  presenting  this  report,  it  is  proper  that  I  should  state  at  the 
outset  that  in  my  study  of  High  School  conditions  in  Harrisburg  I 
had  the  cordial  co-operation  and  active  assistance  of  all  persons 
directly  responsible  for  the  satisfactory  solution  of  the  problems 
presented,  whom  I  met  while  in  the  city.  This  friendly  attitude 
has  made  my  work  pleasant,  while  at  the  same  time  the  desire, 
expressed  by  all,  to  follow  a  policy  which  might  be  established  as 
most  advantageous  for  the  city  and  its  school  population  has 
encouraged  me  to  hope  that  such  a  policy  might  be  outlined.  I 
desire  in  particular  to  express  my  appreciation  of  the  assistance 
of  Messrs.  McFarlancl,  Hain  and  Jennings  of  the  Board  of  Trade, 
of  Messrs.  Boyer,  Boll,  Houtz  of  the  Board  of  Education,  of 
Secretary  Bell,  Secretary  Hammelbaugh,  and  of  Superintendent 
Downes. 

The  subjects  of  my  inquiry  are  included  in  the  following  state- 
ment of  instructions  : 

"The  points  to  be  covered  are  as  follows  : 

1.  The  present  need  of  a  new  high  school. 

2.  Whether  we  shall  have  one  or  two. 

3.  The  location  or  locations. 

4.  The  accomodations  and  facilities  that  should  be  provided  to 
meet  modern  educational  ideas  and  demands. 

5.  The  probable  cost  of  the  project  not  including  sites  and  fur- 
nishings. 

6.  The  probable  length  of  time  that  such  building  or  buildings 
will  meet  the  high  school  needs  of  the  community." 


I  shall  discuss  these  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  stated  above. 

I.  There  is,  without  question,  an  immediate,  pressing  need  of 
a  new  high  school.  A  visit  to  the  present  Central  High  School  is 
sufficient  to  convince  anybody,  it  seems  to  me,  that  there  is  no 
reason  for  discussion  on  this  point.  I  am  not  justified,  however, 
in  dismissing  the  matter  with  this  ex  cathedra  statement,  and, 
therefore,  give  my  reasons. 

The  sufficiency  of  a  school  building  must  be  judged  by  its 
capacity,  or  the  number  of  pupils  whom  it  can  properly  accommo- 
date, and  by  the  measures  and  facilities  which  it  provides  for  the 
comfort  and  protection  of  teachers  and  pupils  and  for  the  effective 
instruction  of  pupils.  It  is  well  known  that  the  building  cannot 
accommodate  all  the  pupils  of  the  High  School  and  that  an  "over- 
flow school"  has  been  established  in  the  Annex  on  the  other  side 
of  Forster  street. 

The  high  school  building  falls  far  short  of  satisfying  the  de- 
mands now  made  upon  a  building  of  this  character.  There  is  in 
its  construction  the  most  glaring  evidence  of  the  lack  of  the 
thoughtful  consideration  which  should  be  given  to  the  special 
personal  needs  of  pupils  of  high  school  age.  Except  for  a  few 
alterations  or  improvisations,  made  from  time  to  time,  it  must 
be  regarded  simply  as  a  school  building,  not  as  one  specifically 
designed  to  meet  the  demands  of  a  high  school.  The  conditions 
surrounding  the  pupils  are  very  unsatisfactory.  I  should  be  in- 
clined to  speak  strongly  of  the  conditions  in  the  buildings  which 
compose  the  "Annex,"  but  refrain  from  doing  so  because  their 
use  is  intended  to  be  only  temporary. 

Since  the  High  School  building  was  erected,  not  only  standards 
of  construction  but  educational  standards  have  been  raised.  More- 
over, methods  of  instruction  have  been  changed,  the  scope  of 
instruction  has  been  amplified,  and  the  emphasis  to  be  placed  on 
the  several  forms  of  instuction  has  been  shifted.  The  building, 
however,  preserves  its  antiquated  mould,  by  which  the  training  of 
pupils  must  be  shaped  on  old  lines,  in  spite  of  progressive  teach- 
ing. To  illustrate,  effective  science  teaching  requires  individual 
experimentation  and  investigation  on  the  part  of  all  pupils.  The 
physical  and  chemical  laboratories  in  the  Central  High  School  are 
sadly  lacking  in  space  and  equipment.  Courses  in  physics  and 


chemistry,  which  would  now  be  regarded  as  educationally  satis- 
factory, can  not  be  given  in  them.  No  provision  is  made  for 
satisfactory  instruction  in  biology  or  physiography,  and  there  are 
no  laboratories  for  these  subjects.  Systematic  physical  training 
must  be  absent  because  there  is  no  gymnasium.  Facilities  for  ac- 
commodating the  pupils  during  the  lunch  period  are  lacking. 
There  is  neither  the  space  nor  the  equipment  for  organizing 
courses  of  instruction  in  household  arts  or  vocational  work  for 
girls.  It  would  be  easy  to  specify  other  details,  more  or  less 
important,  in  which  the  building  is  deficient  for  high  school  pur- 
poses. 

2.  Should  there  be  one  or  two  new  high  schools?  This  ques- 
tion does  not  arise  from  general  educational  considerations,  but 
has  a  special  significance  at  this  time  by  reason  of  the  grouping  or 
distribution  of  population  peculiar  to  Harrisburg. 

From  statistics  furnished  me  by  Superintendent  Downes  it 
appears  that  of  870  pupils  at  present  attending  the  Central  High 
School  547,  or  63  per  cent.,  reside  west  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road, and  323,  or  37  per  cent.,  reside  on  Allison  Hill,  east  of  the 
railroad.  Of  the  547  residing  west  of  the  railroad  only  about  50 
reside  south  of  North  street.  The  last  group  is  so  small  that  it 
must  be  regarded  as  negligible  in  this  discussion. 

It  would  be  easy  to  aim  at  satisfying  an  extreme  educational 
ideal  and  to  say  that  two  new  schools  should  be  supplied,  one  for 
each  of  the  two  sections  most  deeply  concerned.  It  would  also  be 
easy  to  present  an  apparently  strong  argument  in  favor  of  such  a 
policy  by  urging  the  future  rapid  growth  of  the  sections  and  the 
ultimate  need  of  two  schools.  But  I  am  certain  that  this  would 
not  be  a  wise  municipal  policy.  The  number  at  present  attending 
the  Central  High  School  does  not  justify  the  large  expenditure 
involved.  Even  though  the  high  school  attendance  is  bound  to 
continue  to  increase  rapidly,  it  will  be  some  time  before  it  becomes 
so  great  that  another  school  will  be  needed.  As  a  schoolman  I 
might  be  expected  to  advocate  a  profusion  of  high  school  facilities, 
but  as  one  vitally  interested  in  progress  in  all  lines  of  school  work 
and  in  all  phases  of  municipal  improvement,  I  can  not  consider  it 
wise  to  provide  high  school  accommodations  far  in  advance  of 


the  need  for  their  use,  if  other  interests  of  the  school  department 
or  of  the  city  are  prejudiced  thereby. 

Furthermore,  I  do  not  regard  it  good  educational  policy  to 
establish  a  small  or  weak  high  school.  It  is  true  that  the  section 
west  of  the  railroad  is  alone  capable  of  supporting  a  strong, 
efficient,  well-attended  high  school,  as  is  made  clear  by  the  sta- 
tistics of  attendance  given  above.  But  this  is  not  true  of  the  Hill 
section,  which,  as  has  been  shown,  furnishes  323,  or  37  per  cent., 
of  the  present  pupils  of  the  Central  High  School.  It  must  be 
assumed  that  if  a  new  high  school  were  to  be  erected  in  this  sec- 
tion, it  would  be  of  the  most  approved  type,  and  would  contain 
all  the  facilities  and  offer  all  the  courses  of  instruction  now  found 
in  our  best  high  schools.  I  am  convinced  by  all  the  data  which  I 
have  been  able  to  gather  that  the  pupils  would  demand  all  such 
courses  and  that  the  distribution  of  pupils  among  these  would  be 
about  the  same  as  that  which  would  prevail  in  the  other  high 
school.  From  statistics  furnished  me  by  Secretary  Bell  it  may  be 
safely  concluded  that  the  population  of  the  Hill  section  is  at  least 
23,000,  or  somewhat  more  than  one-third  of  that  of  the  city.  So 
also  the  number  of  pupils  from  the  Hill  attending  the  Central 
High  School  is  somewhat  greater  than  one-third  of  the  whole 
number.  Of  the  256  pupils  reported  as  attending  the  Technical 
High  School  85,  or  33  per  cent.,  come  from  the  Hill  section,  which 
is  about  the  same  proportionately  as  the  number  from  this  section 
attending  the  Central  High  School.  Principal  Steele  informs  me 
that  in  the  Central  School  the  pupils  of  the  Hill  section  make 
choices  of  courses  in  about  the  same  way  as  other  pupils.  There 
is,  furthermore,  nothing  in  the  physical  appearance  of  the  Hill 
section  or  in  the  characteristics  of  its  people,  so  far  as  I  can 
learn,  to  justify  one  in  concluding  that  the  pupils  would  make 
choice  of  courses  differently  from  those  residing  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  city.  Assuming  this  to  be  true,  it  would  be  found  that 
some  of  the  classes  would  be  small,  so  small  in  fact  that  advan- 
tageous instruction  could  not  be  given  with  sufficient  economy. 
There  would,  therefore,  soon  appear  a  tendency  to  eliminate  such 
courses  as  did  not  appear  profitable  because  of  the  small  number 
of  pupils  choosing  them,  and  thus  to  limit  the  opportunities  which 
ought  to  be  available  to  the  pupils.  If  there  should  be  any  danger 

6 


of  this,  and  it  is  practically  certain  that  there  would  be,  it  would 
be  better  for  the  pupils  to  attend  a  strong  high  school,  organized 
with  a  view  to  the  effective  and  economical  distribution  of  pupils 
among  the  classes,  even  at  the  expense  of  some  inconvenience. 

I  understand  that  the  suggestion  has  been  made  that  the  pupils 
of  the  Central  High  School  be  grouped  in  two  high  schools,  one 
for  boys,  the  other  for  girls.  I  desire  to  offer  the  following 
reasons  for  not  according  this  plan  my  approval : 

1.  Experience  has   abundantly   shown  that   there   is   no  valid 
objection  to  co-education  in  the  high  school.     On  the  other  hand 
it  tends  to  improve  the  demeanor  of  the  pupils.     It  facilitates  the 
classification  of  pupils  and  the  assignment  of  teachers  to  classes, 
and  thus  promotes  economy  in  the  employment  of  teachers  with- 
out decreasing  the  effectiveness  of  the  school. 

2.  There  would  be  at  present  in  the  high  school  for  boys  about 
298  pupils.     The  school  would  thus  be  small  and  open  to  the 
objections  which  I  have  urged  above  in  this  report. 

3.  If  the  plan  involves  the  erection  of  two  new  buildings  the 
cost  would  be  a  serious  obstacle. 

4.  If  but  one  new  high  school  is  intended  the  problem  involved 
is  the  same  as  that  which  we  are  discussing  in  connection  with  the 
new  general  high  school,  namely,  the  location,  and  presents  the 
same  difficulties. 

5.  If  one  of  the  schools  is  to  occupy  the  present  Central  High 
School  building,  the  plan  is  objectionable   for  reasons  which  I 
have  already  stated  in  discussing  the  impropriety  of  continuing 
the  use  of  that  building  for  high  school  purposes. 

I  would  therefore  recommend  the  erection  of  but  one  new  high 
school. 

This  recommendation  should,  however,  be  regarded  as  con- 
ditional upon  the  advantageous  location  of  the  school  and  sub- 
ject to  the  modification  which  I  shall  suggest  hereafter. 

3.  The  Location  of  the  School.  I  do  not  understand  that  it 
is  your  desire  that  I  point  out  precisely  the  plot  which  should  be 
acquired  for  the  proposed  new  school.  Such  action  on  my  part 
would  require  the  consideration  of  such  elements  as  size,  shape, 
drainage,  height  of  neighboring  buildings,  geological  conditions 


affecting  foundations,  cost,  etc.,  all  of  which  are,  it  is  true,  perti- 
nent to  an  inquiry  of  this  character,  but  also  belong  to  a  discussion 
of  the  site  of  any  school.  All  of  these  are  important,  but  I  shall 
for  the  present  assume  that  the  site  which  may  be  selected  will  be 
satisfactory  so  far  as  these  elements  are  concerned,  and  shall  point 
out  with  sufficient  precision  the  part  of  the  city  in  which  it  seems 
to  me  the  school  should  be  located. 

The  element  with  which  we  are  most  concerned  is  naturally 
accessibility.  It  is  easy  for  one  who  has  studied  the  topography 
of  Harrisburg,  though  he  be  a  stranger,  to  notice  that  the  Park 
surrounding  the  State  Capitol  is  the  center  of  accessibility  for  all 
parts  of  the  city.  This  is  especially  accessible  to  the  two  sections 
which  send  most  pupils  to  the  High  Schools,  namely,  the  Hill 
section  and  the  section  north  of  North  street,  whether  the  pupils 
fcride  or  walk  to  school.  If  pupils  use  the  trolley  it  is  possible  for 
them  to  reach  this  vicinity  without  transfer.  This  consideration 
must  not  be  regarded  as  unimportant.  At  present  all  trolley  cars  go 
to  Market  Square,  where,  I  understand,  all  transfers  must  be 
made.  Those  pupils  of  the  Hill  section  who  must  use  the  trolley 
may  be  forced  to  follow  a  circuitous  route  by  way  of  Market 
Square,  and  thus  lose  much  time,  if  they  are  not  considered  in 
locating  the  school.  But  I  regard  it  most  important  that  the 
school  be  so  located  that  all  or  nearly  all  pupils  may  walk  to  it  with 
comparative  ease.  To  very  many  parents  the  car  fare  of  a  child 
attending  school  is  an  important  item.  If,  as  often  happens,  this 
expense  is  necessary  for  two  or  more  children,  it  becomes  a  serious 
burden.  It  is  often  the  decisive  factor  in  terminating  the  school 
attendance  of  children  whose  parents  cannot  afford  this  outlay. 

At  present  no  special  school  rates  are  given  to  school  pupils  by 
the  trolley  company.  In  many  cities  such  rates  are  given  without 
the  privilege  of  transfer.  While,  as  I  am  told,  there  is  at  present 
no  probability  of  any  concession  of  this  kind  to  high  school  pupils, 
it  is  not  unlikely  that  it  will  at  some  time  be  made. 

It  may  be  said  that  the  ambitious  pupils,  eager  for  a  higher 
education,  will  walk  any  distance  to  school,  if  necessary.  But  it 
is  not  wise  to  test  the  endurance  of  children  too  severely  in  this 
way,  particularly  if  they  are  not  robust.  It  should  be  our  policy 

8 


to  encourage  attendance  upon  the  High  School  by  making  it  as 
easy  and   convenient   as   possible. 

It  is  because  of  its  nearness  to  the  center  of  accessibility  that 
the  location  of  the  Technical  High  School  is  a  good  one.  For  the 
same  reason,  the  present  Central  High  School  is  generally  re- 
garded as  conveniently  located. 

It  is  particularly  on  the  ground  of  accessibility  that  I  would 
recommend  that  a  site  be  chosen  for  the  new  high  school  very 
near  State  House  Park,  or,  better  still,  fronting  on  the  Park. 
There  are  eligible  sites  on  North  street  to  which  no  technical 
exceptions  can  be  taken. 

Aside  from  the  advantages  of  such  a  site  for  school  purposes, 
the  Board  of  Education  ought,  if  it  is  at  all  possible,  to  take  ad- 
vantage of  the  opportunity  which  the  presence  of  the  Park  offers, 
to  participate  in  a  notable  way  in  the  remarkable  progress  which 
the  city  has  made  in  the  last  ten  years,  and  is  still  making,  in  its 
numerous  successful  projects  for  civic  betterment, — an  oppor- 
tunity which  becomes  all  the  more  valuable  when  the  proposed  ex- 
tension of  the  Park  eastward,  its  consequent  increase  in  attractive- 
ness and  its  possibilities  as  a  civic  center  of  the  finest  type  are  con- 
sidered. 

Many  noteworthy  buildings  are  already  located  about  the  Park. 
The  new  high  school  will  undoubtedly  be  a  monumental  building 
of  first  class  construction,  and  of  attractive  architectural  design, 
and  next  to  the  state  buildings  will  be  the  most  striking  public 
building  in  the  city.  It  will,  I  am  sure,  be  a  cause  for  regret  here- 
after, if  the  building,  which,  because  of  its  durable  construction, 
will  long  outlive  the  bonds  which  must  be  issued  for  its  erection, 
does  not  find  a  place  among  the  many  attractive  structures  which 
will  gradually  be  grouped  about  the  Park. 

I  full  realize  that  the  cost  of  such  a  site  will  undoubtedly  be 
great,  perhaps  beyond  the  means  of  the  city.  I  have  not,  however, 
allowed  my  fears  in  this  respect  to  dissuade  me  from  urging  its 
unusual  claims  to  consideration,  in  the  hope  that  strong  efforts  will 
be  made  to  secure  it.  This  may  after  all  not  be  impossible  to  a 
city  which  has  already  in  several  instances  accomplished  what 
formerly  seemed  impossible. 

If  a  site  fronting  on  the  Park  can  not  be  secured  I  would  urge 


again  that  accessibility  be  considered  and  that  the  school  be 
located  very  near  the  Park. 

It  has  been  suggested,  I  am  told,  that  the  remainder  of  the  block 
on  which  the  Central  High  School  is  located  be  acquired,  or  that 
a  new  building,  to  be  connected  with  the  old,  be  erected.  This 
suggestion  is  based,  probably,  on  the  convenience  of  the  site, 
which,  as  has  been  stated,-  is  generally  acknowledged  as  easily 
accessible  to  the  pupils  of  the  school,  and  upon  the  feeling  that 
such  a  project  would  be  more  economical. 

I  find  myself  unable  to  endorse  this  suggestion.  It  is  impossible 
to  extend  the  present  buildings  in  a  satisfactory  manner.  There 
are  structural  features,  fundamental  or  vital  to  its  plan  of  con- 
struction, connected  with  both  its  exterior  and  interior,  which,  ac- 
cording to  present  standards,  are  exceedingly  objectionable. 
These  cannot  be  altered  and  must  be  allowed  to  remain  in  it. 
Their  repetition  in  the  proposed  new  extension  will  not,  however, 
be  permitted  by  established  principles  of  school  construction,  by 
popular  opinion,  or  by  law.  The  building,  therefore,  when  en- 
larged, could  not  be  an  architecturally  uniform  or  homogeneous 
building,  and  would  undoubtedly  be  condemned  as  an  unsatis- 
factory building.  If  a  new  building  were  erected  in  the  rear  of 
the  present  building  the  incongruity  above  mentioned,  would  be  all 
the  more  striking.  Furthermore,  the  administration  of  a  high 
school  located  in  two  buildings  of  such  different  types,  not  form- 
ing a  complete,  compact  whole,  would  be  difficult.  It  would  be 
found,  besides,  I  believe,  that  the  plan  would  not  prove  sufficiently, 
economical  to  warrant  such  violations  of  the  principles  of  school 
construction,  of  architectural  taste,  and  of  effective  administration. 
The  cost  of  necessary  alterations  in  the  old  building  combined  with 
the  cost  of  the  new  building  would  not  be  far  enough  below  the 
cost  of  an  entirely  new  building  to  justify  such  unsatisfactory 
results. 

I  am  strongly  of  the  opinion  that  the  block  on  which  the  present 
building  stands  can  be  effectively  utilized  for  high  school  pur- 
poses only  by  demolishing  all  the  buildings  on  it,  including  the 
High  School. 

If  the  plan  suggested  includes  such  demolition,  and  the  erection 
on  the  entire  block  of  a  new  high  school  building,  there  can  be  no 

IO 


valid  ground  for  objection  so  far  as  the  plan  and  operation  of 
the  school  are  concerned.  In  fact,  if  financial  considerations  were 
entirely  favorable,  it  might  be  wise  to  urge  this  plan.  The 
present  building  has,  however,  considerable  value  for  school  or 
other  purposes,  the  destruction  of  which  involves  an  economic 
waste,  which,  I  believe,  can  not  be  justified  at  present,  particularly 
in  view  of  the  difficulty  which  would  be  encountered  in  attempting 
to  accommodate  the  pupils  of  the  school  while  the  new  building  is 
in  course  of  erection.  It  is  far  better  to  preserve  the  building  for 
other  uses  and  acquire  a  site  elsewhere. 

The  Board  of  Education  has  purchased  a  site  for  the  new  high 
school  at  the  corner  of  Third  and  Reily  streets.  I  have  studied 
this  selection  with  great  care  from  all  points  of  view,  and  with 
the  assumption  in  mind  that  there  must  have  been  convincing 
reasons  for  it,  because  it  was  made  by  the  members  of  the  Board 
of  Education,  who  are  in  daily  contact  with  pupils,  their  parents, 
and  other  citizens,  and  who  know  existing  conditions  better  than  a 
stranger  can.  I  regret  that  I  have  not  been  able  to  convince  my- 
self that  this  choice  was  a  wise  one,  if  but  one  new  high  school  is 
to  be  built.  It  makes  the  distance,  which  pupils  of  the  Central 
High  School,  who  reside  on  the  Hill,  must  walk  about  one-half 
mile  longer  that  at  present,  while  those  who  ride  must  go  all  the 
way  by  trolley,  must  transfer  at  Market  Square  and  must  suffer 
the  loss  of  time  caused  by  the  circuitous  routes  over  which  they 
must  travel.  Besides  considering  distances  we  must  also  consider 
the  character  of  the  methods  of  approach  to  the  school.  The 
pupils  who  reside  north  of  North  street  go  to  the  school  by  routes 
which  are  practically  level  and  attractive.  The  same  can  not  be 
said  of  those  residing  on  the  Hill.  The  Reily  street  site  makes  it 
easier  for  nearly  all  of  the  former  to  attend  the  High  School,  while 
it  increases  the  inconveniences  and  disadvantages  of  all  of  the 
latter.  A  comparison  of  the  numbers  of  pupils  involved,  547  of 
the  former,  and  333  of  the  latter,  would  not  seem  to  justify  such 
an  evident  distinction.  I  fear  that  many  of  the  Hill  pupils  will 
be  discouraged  from  attending  the  High  School. 

I  ought  to  say  that  in  addition  to  a  study  of  the  city  map  and  a 
calculation  of  the  distances  involved,  I  have  made  a  practical  test 
of  these  distances  by  walking  over  the  routes  which  pupils  resid- 

II 


ing  on  the  Hill  must  follow  in  going  to  a  school  located  on  the 
Reily  street  site.  I  feel  sure  that  any  one  who  makes  a  similar 
trial  will  agree  with  me  that  the  increased  distance  is  an  appre- 
ciable burden  to  the  pupils  of  the  Hill. 

As  has  been  said,  the  location  of  the  Reily  street  site  is 
extremely  favorable  to  the  section  north  of  North  street.  If  it  is 
the  intention  that  the  new  building  shall  provide  for  this  section 
and  that  ultimately  another  building  is  to  be  erected  on  the  Hill, 
no  objection  can  be  made  to  the  location  mentioned  other  than  that 
it  may  necessitate  the  erection  of  a  small,  ineffective  high  school 
on  the  Hill.  At  the  same  time  it  must  be  remembered  that  the 
erection  of  a  new  high  school  on  Reily  street  will  itself  tend,  to 
some  extent,  to  delay  the  fulfilment  of  this  policy.  It  will  have 
a  tendency  to  divert  more  of  the  boys  who  reside  on  the  Hill  to 
the  Technical  High  School,  because  that  is  nearer  their  homes. 
This  improvement  will,  besides,  eventually  operate  as  all  improve- 
ments of  importance  do.  It  will  promote  the  more  rapid  growth 
of  the  northern  part  of  the  city  and  will,  to  the  same  extent, 
retard  the  growth  of  the  Hill  section,  because  families,  in  which 
there  are  children  who  attend  or  expect  to  attend  the  High  school, 
will  naturally  locate  in  the  section  more  favorably  situated,  other 
things  being  equal.  It  must,  therefore,  be  expected  that  the  im- 
perative necessity  for  the  erection  of  a  complete  high  school  on 
the  Hill  will  be  deferred. 

Realizing  the  force  of  these  considerations  I  must,  as  I  have 
intimated  heretofore,  modify  my  recommendations  in  the  contin- 
gency that  a  new  high  school  is  erected  on  Reily  street,  and  sug- 
gest that,  when  this  building  is  erected,  sufficient  rooms  and  facili- 
ties be  provided  at  once  in  the  Hill  section  for  all  the  pupils  resid- 
ing there  and  attending  the  first  and  second  year  classes  in  the 
High  School.  There  are  at  present  107  first  year  and  87  second 
year  pupils  of  this  kind.  The  third  and  fourth  year  pupils, 
numbering  at  present  65  and  64  respectively,  may  be  required  to 
attend  the  main  high  school,  until  the  number  of  pupils  warrants  a 
complete  high  school.  I  assume,  of  course,  that  the  facilities  in 
this  "branch  high  school"  will  be  as  complete  and  the  instruction 
as  thorough  as  in  the  main  high  school.  As  it  is  suggested  that 
attendance  at  the  school  be  limited  to  first  and  second  year  pupils, 

12 


the  cost  of  providing  the  necessary  rooms  and  equipment  is  com- 
paratively moderate,  because  much  of  the  expensive  laboratory 
equipment  needed  for  advanced  scientific  instruction  in  a  com- 
plete school  will  not  be  necessary  in  this.  Moreover,  the  rooms 
may  be  so  constructed  that  with  some  modifications  they  may 
afterwards  be  used  for  elementary  school  purposes,  or  they  may 
form  part  of  a  high  school,  designed  at  the  beginning  in  its 
entirety,  to  be  completed  when  there  is  need  for  it,  whichever  plan 
may  seem  to  be  the  more  advisable  for  financial  reasons. 

Another  plan  may  be  suggested  if  a  complete  high  school  equip- 
ped for  all  four  years  of  the  course  is  erected  on  the  Reily  street 
site.  All  the  first  and  second  year  high  school  pupils  who  reside 
on  the  Hill,  and  all  the  elementary  school  pupils  of  the  ninth  year 
or  grade  and,  perhaps,  of  the  eighth  year,  who  reside  in  the  same 
section,  may  be  grouped  in  a  school  to  be  provided  for  them,  while 
those  of  the  third  and  fourth  years  of  the  High  School  would 
attend  the  new  building.  If  the  ninth  elementary  grade  alone  is 
included,  such  a  school  would  at  present  contain  336  pupils,  while 
676  would  be  left  in  the  new  high  school  building.  If  the  pupils 
of  the  eighth  elementary  grade  were  also  included  the  pupils  in  the 
Hill  school  would  number  about  500.  Due  allowance  must,  of 
course,  be  made  for  future  increase.  There  is  a  growing  senti- 
ment among  educators  in  favor  of  schools  such  as  this,  which 
would  be  called  a  junior  high  school,  or  sub-academic  school,  even 
in  sections  in  which  a  resort  to  expedients  is  not  necessary.  It 
may  be  urged  as  an  added  advantage  of  this  plan  that  additional 
accommodations  are  provided  for  elementary  school  pupils  as  well 
as  for  high  school  pupils. 

This  junior  high  school  should,  of  course,  be  erected  with  the 
same  foresight  and  should  contain  the  same  approved  facilities  as 
a  complete  high  school,  except  that  it  should  be  adapted  to  the 
needs  of  the  pupils  for  whom  it  is  intended.  The  typical  plan  for 
schools  of  this  kind,  and  the  one  generally  favored,  is  to  group 
the  pupils  of  the  last  two  years  of  the  elementary  schools  with 
those  of  the  first  year  of  the  high  school  as  a  "junior  high  school," 
and  those  of  the  remaining  three  years  of  the  high  school  as  a 
"senior  high  school."  In  our  problem,  besides  considering  classi- 
fication from  an  educational  point  of  view,  we  must  keep  in  mind 

13 


the  necessity  of  removing  the  crowding  in  the  Central  High  School, 
and  hence,  if  we  follow  a  policy  of  this  kind,  must  modify  the 
customary  plan  to  suit  the  circumstances. 

If  the  proposition  to  establish  a  junior  high  school  on  the  Hill 
should  receive  favorable  consideration,  it  would  be  well  to  go 
farther  and  consider  whether  the  new  school  to  be  erected  on  the 
Reily  street  site  should  not  also  be  a  junior  high  school.  The  plan 
would  then  be  to  remodel  entirely  the  present  Central  High  School 
building,  which  will  become  a  senior  high  school,  to  assign  to  it 
only  the  pupils  of  the  higher  grades  from  all  parts  of  the  city,  and 
to  assign  to  the  junior  high  schools  the  pupils  of  the  lower  high 
school  grades  and  of  the  highest  elementary  grades.  The  manner 
in  which  the  grades  shall  be  thus  distributed  must  be  determined 
by  a  careful  consideration  of  the  number  of  pupils  contained  in 
each.  To  illustrate,  if  the  pupils  of  the  ninth  elementary  and 
those  of  the  first  and  second  high  school  years  are  grouped  to 
form  the  junior  high  schools,  the  junior  high  school  on  the  Hill 
would  at  present  have  336  pupils,  that  on  the  Reily  street  site 
would  have  649,  while  the  senior  high  school  (in  the  Central 
Building)  would  have  327  pupils.  If  we  group  the  eighth  and 
ninth  elementary  years  with  the  first  high  school  year,  the  result 
would  be  as  follows :  Junior  high  school  on  Hill,  about  410  pupils, 
junior  high  school  on  Reily  street,  about  775  pupils,  senior  high 
school  (in  Central  Building),  590  pupils.  By  this  latter  scheme 
of  distribution  too  many  pupils  are  left  in  the  Central  Building, 
so  that  it  would  soon  be  overcrowded  again,  as  the  school  grows. 
It  seems  to  me  clear  that  the  former  plan  of  distribution  and 
classification  is  best  adapted  to  present  conditions,  if  junior  high 
schools  are  to  be  established. 

The  high  school  system  would  thus  include  the  Technical  High 
School  for  boys  of  all  grades,  the  Central  High  School,  or  senior 
high  school,  for  the  higher  grades  only,  a  junior  high  school  on  the 
Hill,  and  a  junior  high  school  on  Reily  street,  both  for  the  lower 
high  school  grades  and  the  higher  elementary  grades. 

The  serious  objection  to  the  last  two  plans  is  that  the  immediate 
expense  would  probably  be  greater  than  that  of  erecting  the  one 
new  building  which  I  have  suggested.  I  ought  also  to  say  that 

14 


there  is  grave  doubt  as  to  the  possibility  of  remodeling  the  Central 
High  School  building  in  a  satisfactory  manner. 

If  we  neglect  this  financial  objection,  the  plan  last  mentioned, 
which  provides  for  the  reconstruction  and  improvement  of  the 
Central  High  School  building  and  the  erection  of  two  junior  high 
schools,  has  an  obvious  advantage.  The  pupils  of  the  lower 
school  grades  are  enabled  to  attend  schools  nearer  their  homes 
than  at  present,  while  those  in  the  higher  grades  have  no  greater 
distance  to  travel  than  at  present.  There  is  danger,  however,  in 
adopting  this  as  a  permanent  policy  for  the  future,  because  it 
seems  to  me  likely  to  obstruct  the  logical  development  of  the  high 
school  system.  You  have  one  general  high  school,  from  which 
have  been  separated  the  boys  who  elect  industrial  courses.  Con- 
tinuing this  process,  the  logical  course  seems  to  me  to  maintain  the 
general  high  school,  in  new  quarters  and  with  up-to-date  facili- 
ties, of  course,  until  such  a  time  as  a  further  step  must  be  taken, 
when  it  will  be  proper,  logically,  to  secure  relief  by  segregating  the 
girls  who  elect  vocational  courses  in  a  new  building.  There  will 
then  be  three  high  schools,  a  general  high  school,  a  special  high 
school  for  boys  who  elect  industrial  courses,  and  a  special  high 
school  for  girls  who  elect  vocational  courses.  A  high  school 
system  containing  three  such  schools  will  be  sufficient  for  Harris- 
burg,  considerably  beyond  the  period  which  I  have  been  asked  to 
consider. 

If,  however,  the  plan  is  made  sufficiently  comprehensive,  if  the 
junior  high  schools  are  properly  constructed  and  equipped  for  all 
necessary  kinds  of  instruction,  if  the  Central  High  School  build- 
ing is  adequately  improved,  and,  if  above  all,  those  who  manage 
educational  affairs  hereafter,  will  insist  that  a  new  building  be 
provided  in  place  of  the  Central  High  School  building  as  soon  as 
possible,  which  shall  contain,  besides  a  general  high  school,  a 
special  vocational  school  for  girls,  I  see  no  educational  objection 
to  the  plan.  I  do  not  wish  to  be  understood  as  favoring  this 
alternative  to  the  exclusion  of  all  others.  I  have  presented  it  with 
others  in  order  to  give  full  consideration  to  all  plans  and  have 
suggested  it  as  an  expedient,  because  I  think  it  desirable  to  make 
high  school  facilities  accessible  and  thus  remove  the  obstacles  to 
high  school  attendance  which  existing  circumstances  seem  likely 

15 


to  create.     As  I  have  stated,  I  believe  one  general  high  school  of 
the  best  type,  favorably  located,  to  be  preferable. 

The  new  School  Code  very  wisely  requires  that  when  a  new 
school  building  is  erected  a  suitable  playground  be  provided.  It 
may  be  urged  that  in  order  to  comply  with  this  requirement  the 
new  site  should  be  large  enough  to  offer  facilities  for  recreation  to 
the  high  school  pupils.  I  should  be  glad  if  such  an  ideal  could  be 
realized.  But  it  must  be  remembered  that  a  playground  suitable 
for  high  school  pupils  must  be  quite  different  from  that  intended 
for  pupils  of  elementary  schools.  In  the  former  must  be  included 
provisions  for  athletic  sports  and  games  for  which  a  large  area  or 
field  is  required.  None  of  the  sites  which  have  been  considered  in 
connection  with  the  present  problem  can  be  regarded  as  large 
enough  for  these,  nor  is  it  necessary  that  a  new  playground  of 
such  a  character  be  provided  in  connection  with  the  proposed  new 
school,  for  the  city  has  already  complied  substantially  with  the 
Code  in  that  it  has  provided  and  maintains  the  playgrounds  or 
athletic  field  on  the  Island,  which  very  generously  supplies  the 
needs  of  high  school  pupils.  I  have,  therefore,  disregarded  this 
element  in  discussing  locations. 

4.  The  accommodations  and  facilities  that  should  be  provided 
to  meet  modern  educational  ideas  and  demands. 

The  building  may  be  three  stories  in  height,  but  ought  not  be 
higher.  Although  it  may  at  times.be  necessary  to  construct  a 
fourth  story,  it  is  better  practice  to  avoid  it,  if  possible,  par- 
ticularly in  a  school  used  by  girls  of  high  school  age. 

According  to  the  School  Code  a  school  of  three  stories  must  be 
of  fire  proof  construction. 

The  building  should  contain  the  following: 

Accommodations  for  1,400,  or  preferably  1,500,  pupils.  (De- 
tails of  this  estimate  will  be  given  later.) 

Recitation  rooms  for  all  high  school  subjects,  including  com- 
mercial branches. 

Provision  for  study  rooms. 

Special  lecture  rooms. 

General  stock  room. 

Laboratories  for  physics,  chemistry,  biology,  and  physiography. 

16 


Special  stock  rooms  accompanying  the  laboratories. 

Special  laboratory  and  workshop  for  science  instructors. 

Photographic  dark  room. 

Sewing  rooms. 

Fittings  rooms. 

Stock  rooms  connected  with  sewing  rooms. 

Kitchens  with  pantries. 

Suit  of  small  rooms  to  be  used  as  dining  room,  etc. 

Laundry. 

Lunch  room. 

Cloak  rooms  with  individual  lockers. 

Principal's  offices  and  reception  room. 

Library,  preferably  to  be  used  as  a  branch  of  the  free  public 
library. 

Provisions  for  classes  in  vocal  music,  either  by  separate  room 
or  by  connecting  rooms. 

Teachers'  rooms. 

Rest  room  or  hospital  room  for  pupils. 

Toilets  on  every  floor  in  addition  to  those  in  the  basement. 

Drinking  fountains. 

Auditorium. 

Two  gymnasia,  one  for  boys,  the  other  for  girls.  One  of  these 
should  be  large  enough  for  basket  ball. 

Shower  baths. 

Plunge,  located  between  the  two  gymnasia  so  as  to  be  accessible 
to  both. 

Work  room  and  facilities  for  janitors. 

Elevator  to  be  used  as  book  lift. 

A  few  electric  outlets  for  use  in  connection  with  sewing  and 
laundering. 

Fire  lines  with  stands  of  hose. 

Electric  bell  system  including  fire  signal. 

House  telephone  system. 

Automatic  clock  system. 

(All  electric  wires  should  be  carried  in  metal  conduits'). 

Direct  heating  system. 

Automatic  heat  regulation. 

System  of  power  ventilation. 


Provisions  for  air  filtration. 

Humidifying  plant. 

Vacuum  cleaning. 

Provision  on  the  roof  for  physical  and  meteorological  obser- 
vations and  experiments,  (e.  g.  wireless  telegraphy)  made  in  con- 
nection with  class  work. 

It  must  be  assumed  that  the  building  will  be  planned  and  erected 
in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the  School  Code  and  with 
the  recognized  rules  of  school  construction,  the  details  of  which 
cannot,  of  course,  be  given  here. 

I  have  suggested  by  topics  the  provisions  which  must  be  made  in 
the  new  building  and  have  omitted  the  detailed  features  which  are 
necessary  to  make  these  provisions  effective.  They  must  be  con- 
sidered in  preparing  the  plans. 

In  the  contents  of  the  building  as  specified,  approved  class 
rooms  for  all  subjects  including  commercial  subjects,  and  ap- 
proved science  -laboratories  with  their  accessories  are  included,  so 
that  all  instruction  may  comply  with  the  highest  standards. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  in  addition  to  the  several  courses  of  in- 
struction now  given  in  the  Central  High  School,  the  instruction  of 
girls  in  household  arts  is  provided  for.  There  should  be  not  only 
the  general  courses  which  give  valuable  training  to  all  girls,  but 
special  courses  which  aim  to  give  vocational  training  in  all  kinds 
of  sewing,  in  millinery,  and  in  cooking,  to  correspond  with  the 
industrial  courses  available  to  boys  in  the  Technical  High  School. 

I  have  not  included  special  study  rooms  large  enough  to  ac- 
commodate all  the  pupils  at  one  time.  To  do  this  would  require 
at  least  as  much  space  as  is  occupied  by  the  auditorium.  It  must 
be  remembered  that  from  four-fifths  to  three-fourths  of  the  pupils 
should  be  in  class  rooms  and  laboratories  at  all  times  and  that  con- 
sequently only  one-fifth  or  one-fourth  of  them  should  be  in  study 
rooms.  To  provide  space  for  all,  which  is  used  at  one  time  by 
only  a  few,  must  be  regarded  as  wasteful.  Provisions  for  the 
study  periods  of  pupils  may  be  made  in  other  ways.  If  it  is 
necessary  to  assemble  all  the  pupils  at  one  time,  the  auditorium 
may  be  used  for  the  purpose. 

The  building  should  be  so  planned  and  equipped  that  if  may  be 
used  for  evening  school  purposes.  It  will  undoubtedly  be  found 

18 


that  many  will  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunities  to  receive 
vocational  instruction  if  such  be  offered. 

So  also  the  use  of  the  building  by  the  public  out  of  school  hours 
must  be  kept  in  mind.  The  auditorium  particularly  may  become 
very  useful,  but  other  features,  such  as  the  gymnasia,  the  plunge 
and  library  may  be  made  of  general  service  and  will  surely  be 
appreciated.  For  this  reason  it  is  desirable  that  the  auditorium 
should  be  easily  accessible  from  the  street. 

5.  The  probable  cost  of  the  project,  not  including  sites  and 
furnishings. 

The  building  must  be  fire-proof,  as  has  been  said,  and  should  be 
of  attractive  and  imposing  architectural  design.  It  should  be 
remembered  that  the  building  will  be  considerably  higher  than 
most  of  the  buildings  which  surround  it,  and  will  be  visible  at  a 
great  distance,  and  that,  therefore,  every  side  should  be  a  front. 
It  is  a  mistake  to  treat  the  sides  or  even  the  rear  of  such  a  building 
with  indifference,  or  to  make  them  unattractive.  I  do  not  mean 
that  all  the  elevations  should  be  regarded  as  of  equal  importance 
or  that  they  should  receive  equal  elaboration,  but  I  do  urge  that 
each  side  be  treated  appropriately.  All  sanitary  features  must 
comply  with  the  requirements  of  the  best  scientific  standards  and 
with  the  most  exacting  sanitary  laws  and  ordinances. 

I  believe  that  the  cost  of  the  building  need  not  exceed  $450,000. 
I  base  this  estimate  on  the  standards  of  wages  and  hours  of  labor 
as  given  me  by  Secretary  Bell  and  on  the  assumption  that  due 
economy  will  be  exercised  in  planning  it  and  no  extravagance  will 
be  exhibited  in  the  choice  of  materials  for  the  interior  as  well  as 
the  exterior.  It  is,  of  course,  possible  to  make  the  cost  much 
more  than  the  amount  which  I  have  stated. 

6.  The  probable  length  of  time  that  such  building  will  meet  the 
high  school  needs  of  the  community. 

One  of  the  most  striking  phenomena  in  the  educational  history 
of  this  country  is  the  rapid  growth  in  high  school  attendance  dur- 
ing the  last  twenty-five  years.  The  reports  of  the  United  States 
Census  show  that  the  population  of  the  country  increased  from 
62,622,250  in  1890  to  91,972,266  in  1910,  or  about  47  per  cent. 
During  the  same  period  the  enrollment  in  the  elementary  schools 

19 


grew  from  12,722,581  to  17,506,175,  or  about  38  per  cent.,  while 
the  enrollment  in  the  public  schools  leaped  from  202,963  to  915,- 
061,  thus  showing  an  increase  of  about  351  per  cent.  That 
Harrisburg  participated  in  this  phenomenal  growth  is  shown  by 
the  reports  of  the  United  States  Commissioner  of  Education,  in 
which  we  find  that  the  total  enrollment  in  the  elementary  schools 
of  Harrisburg  in  1890  was  6,604,  and  in  1910,  9,538,  which  shows 
an  increase  of  44  per  cent.  During  the  same  period  the  enroll- 
ment in  the  High  Schools  grew  from  430  to  1,073,  or  I5°  Per  cent- 

A  consideration  of  some  of  the  details  of  this  growth,  the 
figures  of  which  have  been  furnished  me  by  Superintendent 
Downes,  is  interesting  as  well  as  profitable  for  our  present  pur- 
pose. In  1900  there  was  but  one  high  school,  as  was  the  case  until 
1904,  when  the  Technical  High  School  was  established.  As  the 
new  building  of  the  Technical  High  School  provides  adequately 
for  its  pupils  at  the  present  time,  they  should  not  be  considered  in 
the  estimates  which  we  must  make  for  the  new  Central  High 
School.  In  1904  the  enrollment  of  pupils  in  the  latter  for  Sep- 
tember, which  is  generally  the  highest  of  the  year,  was  604.  For 
each  of  the  succeeding  years  to  and  including  1911,  it  was  respec- 
tively, 609,  662,  706,  697,  759,  857,  869.  This  increase  in  the 
Central  High  School  alone  during  the  seven  years  was  therefore 
265,  or  about  44  per  cent.  If  we  assume  that  conditions  will  re- 
main the  same  and  that  the  past  rate  of  growth  will  continue  con- 
stant in  the  future,  the  enrollment  in  September,  1918,  ought  to 
be  1,250,  and,  by  the  same  reasoning,  it  ought  to  be  1,350  in  1920. 
If  we  could  be  guided  by  such  calculations  alone,  we  would  be 
justified  in  claiming  that  a  school  accommodating  1,400  pupils 
would  be  sufficient  until  1920.  If  we  relied  solely  on  an  estimate 
made  in  this  way  we  should  probably  find  eventually  that  we  had 
deceived  ourselves,  for  in  the  past  the  rate  of  growth  has  itself 
increased. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  this  increase  in  high  school  enrollment  is 
the  resultant  of  a  number  of  forces  operating  with  varying  degrees 
of  intensity,  at  different  times  in  opposition  to  those  influences 
which  incite  pupils  to  leave  school,  but  tending  always  to  produce 
a  condition  of  equilibrium  between  total  population  and  high 
school  enrollment,  that  is,  toward  a  condition  in  which  the  ratio 

20 


between  total  population  and  high  school  enrollment  will  remain 
the  same  and  the  rate  of  increase  of  the  latter  will  be  constant. 
In  order  to  base  our  estimate  on  reliable  data  it  is  necessary  to  con- 
sider these  forces  or  tendencies  briefly.  They  may  be  enumerated 
generally  as  follows : 

1.  General  increase  in  the  population  of  the  city. 

2.  Special  increase  in  population  due  to  annexation  of  adjacent 
territory. 

3.  Acquisition  of  new  industries. 

4.  Increased   desire  on  the  part   of  young  people   for  higher 
education. 

5.  Growing  tendency  on  the  part  of  commercial  and  industrial 
interests  to  demand  higher  educational  standards. 

6.  Closer  adaptation   of  courses  of  study  in  high  schools  to 
current  popular  demands,  e.  g.  greater  freedom  in  choice  of  studies, 
provisions  for  vocational  instruction,  continuation  schools,  etc. 

7.  Reduction  of  amount  of  retardation  in  all  grades. 

8.  Increase  in  school  accommodations. 

9.  Improvement  in  schools  and  in  their  facilities,  by  which  they 
become  more  attractive  and  their  instruction  becomes  more  effi- 
cient. 

10.  Accessibility  of  the  schools. 

IT.  Greater  provisions  for  protecting  the  health  of  children,  pre- 
venting illness,  and  thus  promoting  attendance. 

12.  More  rigid  enforcement  of  compulsory  attendance  laws. 

On  glancing  at  these  we  may  notice  some  which  are  likely  to 
remain  constant,  others  which  are  bound  to  grow  in  influence,  and 
still  others  which  have  not  yet  begun  to  operate.  I  may  cite  the 
fourth,  fifth,  seventh,  eleventh,  and  twelfth,  above  enumerated,  as 
influences  which  are  bound  to  grow  stronger  in  the  future.  While 
the  second  and  third  causes,  mentioned  above,  operating  to  in- 
crease high  school  enrollment,  may  become  active  at  any  time,  they 
are  matters  of  conjecture,  and  can  not  be  used  in  estimates  such 
as  this.  I  regard  the  sixth,  eighth  and  ninth  factors  mentioned  as 
destined  to  increase  the  rate  of  growth  in  high  school  attendance 
in  a  most  striking  manner,  and  to  cause  it  to  exceed  considerably 
that  produced  by  the  general  increase  of  population.  Conclusive 
evidence  might  be  adduced  from  the  experience  of  other  cities  to 

21 


justify  this  statement,  for  in  all  cases  these  improvements  have 
been  followed  by  an  unusual  growth  in  attendance.  But  I  believe 
sufficient  evidence  can  be  secured  by  an  inspection  of  the  statistics 
of  attendance  on  your  own  high  schools. 

Although  the  average  enrollment  in  all  the  schools  of  the  city 
increased  from  8,862  in  1910  to  9,352  in  1911,  the  enrollment  in 
the  Central  High  School  for  September,  1911,  was  only  12  larger 
than  in  September,  1910.  This  small  increase,  under  the  circum- 
stances, is  abnormal.  And  yet  to  any  one  familiar  with  the  un- 
desirable conditions  prevailing  in  this  school  the  reason  is  clear. 
These  conditions  repel  pupils  who  otherwise  would  continue  to 
attend.  When  these  are  removed,  and  more  and  better  accommo- 
dations are  supplied  the  enrollment  is  bound  to  increase  rapidly. 

Of  the  870  pupils  enrolled  in  the  Central  High  School  298  are 
boys.  In  the  Technical  High  School  256  boys  are  enrolled.  Of 
the  1,126  high  school  pupils  in  the  city  554  are  boys  and  572  are 
girls.  The  number  of  boys  is  unusually  large,  compared  with  the 
number  of  girls,  or  rather,  the  number  of  girls  is  smaller  than  we 
should  expect,  for  because  of  the  necessity  and  opportunities  for 
their  employment  the  number  of  boys  attending  high  schools  is 
generally  considerably  smaller  than  the  number  of  girls.  Two 
conclusions  must  be  drawn  from  this  fact:  first,  the  attendance 
of  the  girls  is  the  more  seriously  affected  by  the  unfavorable  con- 
ditions, and  second,  the  opportunity  for  vocational  instruction 
which  is  offered  the  boys  operates  as  an  incentive  to  stimulate  the 
attendance  of  boys,  while  this  opportunity  is  not  offered  the  girls, 
and  if  instruction  of  a  like  nature,  appropriate  to  girls,  such  as 
courses  in  the  household  arts,  be  offered,  their  attendance  will 
increase  very  rapidly. 

The  popularity  of  vocational  instruction  is  well  illustrated  in  the 
growth  of  the  Technical  School,  which  in  September,  1904,  had  an 
enrollment  of  55,  and  in  September,  1911,  255. 

Confidence  in  the  estimates  which  I  have  made  will  be  increased 
if  we  approach  the  problem  in  a  different  way.  In  1890  the  popu- 
lation of  Harrisburg  was  39,385,  in  1900,  50,167,  and  in  1910,  64,- 
186.  The  increase  in  the  decade  ending  in  1900  was  about  27.4 
per  cent.,  and  in  the  decade  1900-1910  it  was  27.9  per  cent..  As- 
suming that  the  population  will  increase  at  the  same  rate,  it  will 

22 


in  1920  be  about  82,000.  Using  the  statistics  of  attendance  as 
reported  by  the  United  States  Commissioner  of  Education  as  a 
basis,  we  find  that  in  1890  the  ratio  of  high  school  pupils  in  Harris- 
burg  to  population  was  I  to  92,  in  1900,  i  to  about  78,  and  in  1910, 
i  to  about  60.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  rate  of  growth  in  high 
school  attendance  has  increased  steadily  in  spite  of  the  fact  that 
the  opportunities  for  the  employment  of  young  people  offered  by 
acquired  industries  have  also  increased.  This  progress  in  the  rate 
of  growth  is  due  to  forces  which  I  have  mentioned,  and  which, 
I  am  sure,  will  operate  with  greater  vigor  in  the  future.  I  believe 
it  is  a  conservative  estimate  to  say  that  in  1920  the  ratio  of  high 
school  pupils  to  population  will  be  not  less  than  i  to  about  45. 
On  this  basis  the  number  of  high  school  pupils  would  be  about 
1,820.  Making  due  allowance  for  the  influence  of  additional 
improved  high  school  facilities  of  which  pupils  have  not  had  the 
advantage  heretofore,  we  may  very  reasonably  conclude  that  the 
enrollment  will  be  near  1950  in  1920.  Of  this  number  about  450 
or  500  may  be  estimated  for  the  Technical  High  School  and  1,450 
or  1,500  for  the  Central  High  School. 

I  am  inclined  to  think  that  the  estimates  which  I  have  made  are 
too  low  and  that  the  attendance  will  increase  faster  than  I  have 
indicated.  It  is  altogether  likely  that  the  numbers  mentioned  will 
be  reached  before  1920,  probably  by  1918,  that  is,  if  the  new  high 
school  and  the  progressive  facilities  and  courses  of  instruction 
which  I  have  suggested  are  provided  at  once.  I  have,  however, 
preferred  to  be  conservative,  because  it  does  not  seem  wisely 
economical  to  provide  facilities  at  great  expense  so  far  in  advance, 
that  they  will  be  unused  for  a  long  time,  and  because  it  is  more 
prudent  to  follow  a  program  of  construction  which  will  provide 
accommodations  for  a  reasonable  time  and  which  will  enable  you 
to  adapt  yourselves  to  new  educational  needs  and  demands,  now 
perhaps  not  fully  appreciated,  but  bound  to  arise  in  the  future. 

In  conclusion  I  submit  the  following 

SUMMARY. 

1.  Improved    high    school    accommodations    are    undoubtedly 
necessary. 

2.  I  would  recommend  that  one  general  high  school  be  erected. 

23 


This  recommendation  is,  however,  subject  to  the  modification  pre- 
sented under  "3"  below. 

3.  I  would  recommend,  as  the  most  desirable  location,  a  site  near 
State  House  Park,  preferably  fronting  on  the  Park. 

If  a  new  high  school  is  erected  at  the  corner  of  Reily  and  Third 
streets,  I  regard  this  as  sufficiently  inconvenient  for  the  high  school 
pupils  residing  on  the  Hill  to  justify  the  adoption  of  a  supple- 
mentary plan  whereby  satisfactory  facilities  will  be  offered  them. 
Of  the  several  plans  presented  I  should  at  the  present  time  favor 
that,  as  an  expedient,  in  accordance  with  which  the  Central  High 
School  will  be  so  thoroughly  reconstructed  and  amplified  as  to 
provide  accommodations  of  the  best  and  most  comprehensive  type, 
will  be  denominated  a  Senior  High  School,  and  will  receive  only 
pupils  of  the  higher  grades,  and  two  Junior  High  Schools  of  ap- 
proved plan  and  construction,  will  be  provided,  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  city  (on  the  Reily  street  site),  and  on  the  Hill,  which 
will  receive  pupils  of  the  lower  high  school  grades  and  the  ninth 
elementary  grade,  or  the  eighth  and  ninth  elementary  grades. 

4.  A   high   school  accommodating   1,400,   or  preferably    1,500 
pupils,  and  containing  the  most  approved  facilities  is  suggested. 

5.  The  cost  need  not  exceed  $450,000. 

6.  Assuming  that  the  population  of  Harrisburg  will  increase  as 
rapidly  in  the  future  as  it  has  in  the  past,  such  a  building,  if 
erected  at  once,  will  supply  the  high  school  needs  of  the  city  until 
1918,  and  perhaps  until  1920. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

HENRY  SNYDER. 


24 


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